Free reel, a bit twisted (8)
I believe the answer is:
liberate
'free' is the definition.
(liberating is a kind of freeing)
'reel a bit twisted' is the wordplay.
'twisted' is an anagram indicator.
'reel'+'a'+'bit'='reelabit'
'reelabit' with letters rearranged gives 'LIBERATE'.
(Other definitions for liberate that I've seen before include "Set free, release from slavery" , "Set free, emancipate" , "Deliver" , "Make free" , "Set free, as from oppressive authority" .)